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PICKit 3: Error message

Anobium
2017-11-21
2017-11-22
  • Anobium

    Anobium - 2017-11-21

    Can someone else confirm something for me?

    Can you go to the installation folder of a PICKit3 and try to execute the PK3CMD.EXE?

    Like this... where you have a PICKit3 attached and chip etc. And, the chip can be found by the PICKit3 GUI application. oh.. this will erase the chip but any

    ....\PICkit 3 v3>pk3cmd -p16f690  -e
    

    I get the following returned

    Initialize Failed !!!
    

    Do you get the same error message? or, is this specific to my installation?

    I have an open ticked with Microchip but I want to see if you have the same result. From the information provided to me the error is caused by the version of the PICKit3 operating. But, I want to validate this - can you help by testing?

    Thank you.

     

    Last edit: Anobium 2017-11-21
  • bed

    bed - 2017-11-21

    I do use the java -jar /opt/microchip/mplabx/v3.65/mplab_ipe/ipecmd.jar
    this throws very seldom a warning like this, but it do it's job anyway.
    I'm not in my Lab, so can only tell what I remember not exactly the wordings. Will look later

     
    • Anobium

      Anobium - 2017-11-21

      To be clear. This is from the command line. Not from the GUI.

       
  • Anobium

    Anobium - 2017-11-22

    Summary - worked online with Bill last night.

    This is all command line utility stuff - not GUI application.

    PK3CMD.exe installed from MPLAB 8.92 when used with a PICKit3 needs v1.xx of the PK3OS. v1.xx of the PK3OS is a rare beast because most people have updated PICKit3s to the last release version. Plus, when PK3CMD.exe from MPLAB 8.92 -PK3 with v1.xx of the PK3OS only support microcontrollers with one or two config words.

    PK3CMD.exe installed from MPLAB-X -PK3 needs to be MPLAB Mode. This works and is supported from the Great Cow BASIC IDE.

    PK3CMD.exe .exe installed from MPLAB 8.92 when used with a PICKit3 with version 2.xx of the PK3OS does not work.

    Why I am asking? Developing a new PICKit3 command line utility that works with all the microcontrollers that are supported by the Windows PICKit3 GUI application needs this background information.

    I have the answer. Case closed.

     
  • William Roth

    William Roth - 2017-11-22

    I will reopen .....

    Evan,

    The old version of PK3CMD.exe (Ver 1.00.14) that ships with MPLAB 8.92 is not for use with PK3GUI and REQUIRES that MPLAB 8.92 be installed on the system. This version does not use PK2Devicefile.dat. Instead it depends upon the device files in the MPLAB 8.92 device folder along with other MPLAB 8.92 core files.

    This command line utility is intended to be used with MPLAB 8.92. It works similar to PK3CMD in MPLABX, but does not require Java and it runs about 2 x faster than the MPLABX version. IT supports all the PIC devices that MPLAB 8.92 supports.

    This version of PK3CMD.exe CAN be used effectively with Great Cow Basic. However MPLAB 8.92 must be installed with the PK3CMD option selected at MPLAB 8.92 install time.

    After that it is a simple matter of calling (the correct) pk3cmd.exe in FlashPic.bat. Then it works a treat.

    Mplab 8.92 includes a good readme that details the command line syntax and switches.

    If PK3 GUI was used previously, it MUST be opened and the mode must be set to MPLAB mode before PK3CMD will operate.

    Bill

     

    Last edit: William Roth 2017-11-22
  • Anobium

    Anobium - 2017-11-22

    Thanks for the clarity.

    The goal is NOT to have MPLAB installed to make this work with the new command line. So, then we can call a command line utility without installing 8,.92 or the Java application. And, the goal is not to be forced to change the operational mode of the PICKit3 from the GUI to program in chip.

    This new command line utilty may never get used but it is worth giving this a try to resolve the clunky use of a PICKit3 today.

     

    Last edit: Anobium 2017-11-22

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